High Fluoride Level in Ground Water and Fluoride Adsorption on Activated Carbon

Abstract

 

Widespread occurrence of fluoride over the permissible limit in ground water meant for human consumption caused various health problems, most common being dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis. In this study, endemic fluorosis cases were identified on the primary school students in Sarım and Karataş villages located in the north-west of Şanlıurfa, Turkey (Fig. 1). Thereupon fluoride levels in waters in these villages were analyzed in 2011. Results of analyses showed that the fluoride (F) concentrations in water samples were above the national and international permissible limit values ​​for drinking water ( >1.5 mg L-1). Thus, fluoride concentration in water must be reduced to an optimum level that was recommended in Turkish Water Standards. Aims of the study are; to introduce a new high-fluoride problem in a different part of Turkey (Sarım-Karataş) that was not reported in "Turkey's Water Fluoride Map" and to investigate the removal possibilities of fluoride from water by adsorption on the activated carbon for an urgent solution.